[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deanliv (original)

See my pics, Left the motorway whilst going round a large bend to join another motorway. Went into an uncontrolable sidewards skid, just missing the back end of an artic lorry up an embankment and into a lamppost. I was travelling at between 70-80MPH. Two days later the road was re surfaced!! But i do believe the run flat tyres played a part in the accident as well as possibly the ATC.

1. The run flat tyres appear to have no give in the sidewalls, therefore when travelling round bends there is no flexibility.

2. As i entered a sidewards skid the rear of the car stepped out of line, computers picked it up, braking each wheel to try and keep me straight but resulted in sending me further into the skid a i was travelling round a bend and not in a stright line.

The result was all 4 tyres with no grip sliding across 2 lanes of traffic with no control. The fact my legs are so long I had to have my eat right back is the reason Im still alive today otherwise theres no doubt about it the roof would of crushed my head.

BIG KEV my views are the same as yours regarding convertables, I will never have one, there is no protection there whatsoever. This accident proved to me the roof and the windscreen alone plays a vital part in the strengh of your car.

Wow, Deanliv, that is one mashed up MINI. Glad you came out of it in one piece. I just want to clarify some things from your post :

You mentioned that the 'ATC' may have played a part in your accident. I am assuming you meant ASC, unless Air Traffic Control told you to crash . However ASC does not brake individual wheels to counter lateral acceleration. This is done by DSC. I have had the rear end of a BMW with DSC begin to step out round a wet corner and the system caught it no harm no fuss. The system worked flawlessly. It sounds like you may have ASC not DSC, as DSC is designed with losing control on corners in mind.

What were the conditions? Wet/Icy?

I once owned a convertible. It did make me feel uneasy on occasion. I used to joke with my passenger, that if the car flipped it would be a closed-casket funeral

[Deanliv]

Hi FIN

Your correct it was ACS, it had just started to rain so the roads would have been greasy considering we had 2 weeks sunshine previous. Also the road surface was actually worn out hence the reason it was re surfaced 2 days later. I was not the only person to leave the road at this point, 2 weeks earlier a lady was killed in her Z3 did exactly the same.

My replacement was a Golf, very solid built car but i wanted something a little more funky again so I now have a cooper s with DCS, I treat it with care and much more caution, however it is still twitchy on the back end, these run flats seem to provide lots of grip one min then all of a suddden decide to slide, even at sensible speeds.

I escaped with 3 cuts to my right arm that was it. I will having nothing less than a german designed car now for shear strength of the structures, can you imagine if I was in something as flimsy as a Clio!

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deanliv (original)

Hi FIN

Your correct it was ACS, it had just started to rain so the roads would have been greasy considering we had 2 weeks sunshine previous. Also the road surface was actually worn out hence the reason it was re surfaced 2 days later. I was not the only person to leave the road at this point, 2 weeks earlier a lady was killed in her Z3 did exactly the same.

My replacement was a Golf, very solid built car but i wanted something a little more funky again so I now have a cooper s with DCS, I treat it with care and much more caution, however it is still twitchy on the back end, these run flats seem to provide lots of grip one min then all of a suddden decide to slide, even at sensible speeds.

I escaped with 3 cuts to my right arm that was it. I will having nothing less than a german designed car now for shear strength of the structures, can you imagine if I was in something as flimsy as a Clio!

The convertible I had was a Z3! Poor woman. Mine was proper hardcore too. It was a '98 build before they fitted roll hoops behind the seats, but had included the structure beneath so I could have them retrofitted. It only had ASC too.

You were certainly lucky to have just scratches, and I agree with you on choosing well built cars. Many people have commented on the runflat's loss of traction. Personally I haven't had this problem, but I'm sure you'll be able to find lots of advice on changing to non-runflats

[David King]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

That is interesting. Do have a rough idea of the percentage saving on your premium and/or a list of insurance companies who recognise the course?

I think it depends on what level you pass at, as there are 3 different levels (iirc) But from memory even the lowest pass level is atleast 25% or so. Most companies recognise it, ring up your insurance company and ask them what reduction they give. Its kind of like a pass plus but much more thorough.

Its also meant to save you fuel, and make driving less stressful due to change in driving style - They dont teach you to drive slowly, but they teach you to look further forward so you arent accelerating and then straight on the brakes.

[Fin]

25%!

I'm going to have to look into it

[Randall Raines]

This one is for you "supa-dupa-cooper", I know how you like your Red & White MINIs , this one needs a little TLC!.

This one went right over, not just on one side, and the front airbags weren't activated , just the side airbags, roof airbags & tensioners, and how the interior mirror stayed in place I will never know .

Quote: Originally Posted by davidking (original)

Why dont you sign up to do an advanced motoring course? Ive just signed up to start doing my RoSPA, they say its all about making a progressive and safe drive etc etc. Cost me about £15 to join and you get free observed drives and then all you have to do is pay for your test.

Plus your insurance premiums will reduce a fair amount.

I wouldn't mind going on something like that, I've often thought of going on an advanced driving course, but no matter how safe you are, it doesn't stop some idiot running into you or causing you to crash .

It was my 1st day out today since Christmas, I saw 1 crash at the 1st major set of traffic-lights, but more worryingly, the left-overs from about 3 others that haven't been cleaned up properly due to Christmas holiday I would imagine (the clean-ups, not the crashes).

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

This one is for you "supa-dupa-cooper", I know how you like your Red & White MINIs , this one needs a little TLC!.

This one went right over, not just on one side, and the front airbags weren't activated , just the side airbags, roof airbags & tensioners, and how the interior mirror stayed in place I will never know .

Attachment 140853

Oh my god That makes me want to cry Did the owner get out of it?

[Lolance]

OMG...some serious photos being put up here! Hope the passengers inside were ok

Got an estimate today...£9300 (roof, bonnet, bumpers, xenon light unit, passenger front and back quarters, back quarter window and passenger door). They said they haven't even checked the suspension or anything like that yet Direct Line are sending someone out soon to inspect it.
Anyone got any clues bout if the insurance company could reject the estimate or anything like that? Defo gonna do the advanced driving course, if just for the experience and training. The discount would be great too, seeing as mine is gonna go up a stupid amount Anyone got any clues about how much? Or am I better off changing insurance companies? Randall, didn't you say you worked on Mini's?? Should've taken it to you... !!

Just reading through the brochure again, I wonder if stuff like LSD and DSC would've helped in situations like mine and deanliv's?

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

Oh my god That makes me want to cry Did the owner get out of it?

I presume & hope so, I don't actually know, this one was actually sold on by an insurance company and if there have been any fatalities they should be crushed and not sold on again .

I put the pic on as "Lolance" says it may help people think twice before putting their foot down, if they actually see how some of the cars end-up.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Let's get some more pictures up to help people realise the importance of safe driving.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

I presume & hope so, I don't actually know, this one was actually sold on by an insurance company and if there have been any fatalities they should be crushed and not sold on again .

I put the pic on as "Lolance" says it may help people think twice before putting their foot down, if they actually see how some of the cars end-up.

It certainly shocks you

The back end of mine kicked out on a roundabout once that was bad enough and that was only at low speed!

If there is that much damage/cost Lolance wont it be a writeoff?

[Lolance]

I was told they only get written off if the cost is more than 70%. By a mate...
And because it was a new car, they don't usually like to write them off. Again, by the same mate...

I hope he doesn't get written off But I don't have much of a clue about these matters, still learning...

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

I was told they only get written off if the cost is more than 70%. By a mate...
And because it was a new car, they don't usually like to write them off. Again, by the same mate...

I hope he doesn't get written off But I don't have much of a clue about these matters, still learning...

I would think it depends where and what the damage is as well

[South Shore Lad]

70%?

I always thought it was more like 40 t0 50% of car's value, and linked to the type of damage.



As it creeps towards ten grand's worth of damage, it's looking like a write-off at the moment though.

Won't you get a new replacement though?

And I'm glad no one was hurt!

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Did you have GAP insurance?

[Deanliv]

I would never drive acar after a serious accident no matter what repair, the strength of the structure just wont be the same.

[suzysafloozy]

eekk only just read this. glad ur ok. iv had a few accidents but luckily none were my fault so have been able to protect my no claims this time round in case the un thinkable does happen.

im gonna look into these advanced courses too, i always seem to be in my car so may be worthwhile.

and ive had a matiz as a hire car too, bloody awful things!

sounds like an awful lot of damage - i think id feel safer in a spanking new car anyhow.
and yep keep bugging the dealers and the insurance company - dont let them fob you off

good luck with it all

[suzysafloozy]

p.s.heres the rospa link
RoSPA : Driver Training : Courses : Advanced Tests : Car

[Deanliv]

suzysafloozy

Never drive a Matiz again, I refuse them at work when we are given them as higher cars as they are only NCAP 2 star rating!

Euro NCAP - For safer cars | HOME

defo wouldnt like a wack in one of those!

[Harpo]

Quote: Originally Posted by davidking (original)

Why dont you sign up to do an advanced motoring course? Ive just signed up to start doing my RoSPA, they say its all about making a progressive and safe drive etc etc. Cost me about £15 to join and you get free observed drives and then all you have to do is pay for your test.

Plus your insurance premiums will reduce a fair amount.

Do let us know how you get on.

[South Shore Lad]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

Did you have GAP insurance?

I thought GAP is only relevant after the first year. Don't most (all?) insurance companies replace written-off cars with brand new if less than a year old and you're the first owner.

With it being a 57 reg, I thought it was new. Mind you IF it's second hand, with no GAP, then all you'll get is market value, which could be considerably less than you might need to replace with a like-for-like brand new car.